rationalize (redirected from rationalizing)

ra·tion·al·ize  (rsh-n-lz)

v. ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing, ra·tion·al·iz·es

v.tr.

1. To make rational.

2. To interpret from a rational standpoint.

3. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): "Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments" (Janice Castro).

4. Mathematics To remove radicals, such as from a denominator, without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation).

5. Chiefly British To bring modern, efficient methods to (an industry, for example).

v.intr.

1. To think in a rational or rationalistic way.

2. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for one's behavior.

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ration·al·izer n.

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rationalize, rationalise [ˈræʃənəˌlaɪz]

vb

1. to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event

2. (Psychology) Psychol to indulge, often unchallenged, in excuses for or explanations of (behaviour about which one feels uncomfortable or guilty)

3. to apply logic or reason to (something)

4. (Business / Commerce) (tr) to eliminate unnecessary equipment, personnel, or processes from (a group of businesses, factory, etc.), in order to make it more efficient

5. (Mathematics) (tr) Maths to eliminate one or more radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or the roots of (an equation)

rationalization , rationalisation n

rationalizer , rationaliser n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	rationalize - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" apologise, apologize, rationalise, justify, excuse colour, gloss, color - give a deceptive explanation or excuse for; "color a lie" plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity" defend, fend for, support - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" extenuate, mitigate, palliate - lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime"
	2.	rationalize - weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet" prune, rationalise, cut do away with, eliminate, get rid of, extinguish - terminate, end, or take out; "Let's eliminate the course on Akkadian hieroglyphics"; "Socialism extinguished these archaic customs"; "eliminate my debts"
	3.	rationalize - structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits" rationalise organize, organise - cause to be structured or ordered or operating according to some principle or idea
	4.	rationalize - think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize" rationalise cerebrate, cogitate, think - use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments; "I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere"
	5.	rationalize - remove irrational quantities from; "This function can be rationalized" rationalise math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

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rationalize

verb

1. justify, excuse, account for, vindicate, explain away, make allowance for, make excuses for, extenuate It's easy to rationalize gambling.

2. reason out, resolve, think through, elucidate, apply logic to an attempt to rationalize my feelings

3. streamline, trim, slim down, make more efficient, make cuts in, make cutbacks in, reduce wastage in They have been unable or unwilling to modernize and rationalize the business.

Translations

rationalize [ˈræʃnəlaɪz] VT

1. [+ ideas etc] → racionalizar

2. (= reorganize) [+ industry etc] → reconvertir, reorganizar

3. (Math) → quitar los radicales a, racionalizar

rationalize [ˈræʃ^ənəlaɪz] rationalise (British) vt

[+ feelings] → rationaliser; [+ conduct, behaviour] → rationaliser

(British) (COMMERCE) [+ company, industry] → rationaliser

rationalize

vt

event, conduct etc → rationalisieren; problem → vernünftig sehen or betrachten

(= organize efficiently) industry, production, work → rationalisieren

(Math) → in eine rationale Gleichung umändern

vi → rationalisieren

rationalize [ˈræʃnəˌlaɪz] vt

a. (action, attitude) → (cercare di) spiegare razionalmente

b. (reorganize, industry) → razionalizzare

c. (Math) → razionalizzare

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rationalize [ˈræʃnəˌlaɪz] vt

a. (action, attitude) → (cercare di) spiegare razionalmente

b. (reorganize, industry) → razionalizzare

c. (Math) → razionalizzare